Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-08-12
aFashla9tou Stanaara
THEIIOUsE ON THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
By FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER yf.

CHAPTER XII.
Icould not understand why Sarah
mad taken such strong dislike to me-
She was not amiable in her treatment
of anybody, but was especially malig-
nant in her hatred towards myself.
concluded to pay as little attention as
possible to her She had never before
been so rude and harsh as she was on
this night.
Perhaps am getting spoiled by
the kindness | receive from so many
people, l thought to myself, land it
is well there should be check upon
my vanity. suppose l ought to be
thankful for Sarah"
When l had objected to wearing the
dazzling heart with which l had been
presented. because it was too brilliant
for governess, Mr.. Rayner had sug-
gested l should wear it under my
dress. was grateful for his kindness,
and would have been glad to oblige
him. but there were two reasons
which prevented me. The first was
that it looked as if | were ashamed of
it, and the discovery by Mrs. Rayncr.
or Sarah, for instance, that l was
wearing it concealed, would have
made me feel guilty and uncomfort-
able. The other reason was that l al
ready wore around my neck a little
case made out of the back of an old
purse, and it contained the bit of
paper with MIR. Reade's apology which
/ had pulled off the rose. So l de-
cided to lock up the sparkling pendant
in my desk.
Mr.. Rayncr had given me the PEN
dant on Saturday. The next day. when
service was over, and we were stand.
ing about in the churchyard as usual,
before Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner's depar-
ture gave Haidee and me the signal to
go home. MIR. Laurence Reade left his
party and stood looking at the grave
stones, until the gradual moving on of
the stream of people who were slowly
coming out of the porch brought us
past him. Then, as Mr.. and Mrs. Ray
ner stopped to speak to some one, Mr..
Reade said:
1T seems such long time since
Tuesday"
Tuesday was the day on which he
bought the marbles. I said gravely:
lit is Just five days"
Eyes, but they have been such long
days." said he, in a low voice.
mot really" answered. 1.-THE
days are getting shorter and shorter
now"
Don't you know how long q day
seems when you want to see "a per-
son, and you can't? But perhaps you
see the person you like best to see every
day."
Il like to see my mother best, and
she is long way off," said gravely.
"Ah, Yes, of course! But l wasn't
thinking of ones family"
Perhaps you were thinking of the
pretty girls who were in your pew last
Sunday?"
1.-THE Finches-Ethel and Katie? Oh,
no, wasn't! 1 see quite enough of
them. They're coming again, too, to
the school-treat. Don't see why they
can't be contented with their own tea
> fights. No; was thinking of some
body quite different. Can't you guess
In the pause which followed his words
I distinctly heard Mr.. Rayner's bright
voice saying archly:
Laurence seems to have a great adj
AAAAA 0sAOA Ava OuA RACtSy AAttAC AxAASc OnA Ao-
tie: doesn't he, Mrs. Reader"
/ did not hear her answer, but it was
given in displeased tone; and min
ute afterward she called her son sharp
~ and said they are waiting for him.
This was to be busy week in the
parish. The school-treat, was fixed to
take place on Saturday; and the fol-
lowing day was to be the harvest fes-
tival. The Misses Reade had undertaken
most of the decoration of the church,
as the wears wife had enough to do in
preparation for the school-feast and &C.
companying sale.
The next day Haidec and l took q
longer walk than usual: and, when we
returned, Jane met me with a mysteri.
GUS air in the hall.
''Oh, Miss Christie, young Mr.. Reade
called while you was out, and asked to
see you! He said he had a message fol
you. And, when said you was Out
and offered to give it to you, he said
he had better write it, as it was impor
tant. So he wrote a note for you; and
please it wasn't my fault, but Sarah
got hold of it, and she took it to Mr.
Rayner. / told her it was directed tt
you; but she wouldn't take no notice y
Invent upstairs very much annoyed
by this fresh indignity offered me by
that hateful Sarah, and hurt and sorry
besides. for l was longing to know
what the note said. AS soon as l 90
into the dining-room, however, Mr.
Rayner came up to me smiling, anC
put it into my hands.
Here is billet-doux which has beer
left for you, Miss Christie. Now whom
do you expect one from?"
From nobody, Mr.. Rayner." said ]
blushing very much.
I opened it at once to show that
did not think it Of any consequence.
only said:
"DEAR MISS CHRIsTIE-My sisters I'm,
there is SO much to be done for the churc
that they are afraid they won't be able to dc
dertake psrti II you would not %in ID I vii vi
ride over With the work tomorrow ate
luncheon, about quarter past two.
Yours sincerely. LAURENCE READH.
think | was little disappointed i,
the note; but it was all the better, as
could repeat in quite q careless wa
what it said; and then, just as 1 wa
wondering whether , should tear it VI
to show that l did not care, saw tina
there was something written on the in
side leaf, and put it back into the en-
velope as if l did not notice what wa
doing, and slipped it into my pocket
Dinner was long that day; when
was over went into school-room ant
drew out my letter again. The word
on the inside leaf were:
Why were you SO unkind on Sun
day."
had no way of sending back a,
answer; could only wait till next da,
at quarter past two. But think
could have sung through the lesson
like the heroine of an opera that after
noon.
1 had not thought it necessary t.
mention to Mr.. Rayner the time a
which Mr.. Reade had said he shoult
bring the work; at quarter past tw,
We were always in the drawing-roon
all together. But the next day, tn,
day of all others when it was import
ant that I should stay and hear tn,
explanations about the work 1 had t,
do. Mrs. Rayner asked me, directly
after dinner. If l would mind writin::
some letters for her, to 90 by tina
afternoons post. l should have sa
down to write them in the drow;rr